An IMGW News Report
Asylum claims in the UK reached their highest level since records began in 1979, with 108,138 applications lodged in the year to December 2024—an 18% rise on 2023 and nearly double the figure in 2021, according to Home Office data.
The surge coincides with an uptick in small boat arrivals, which rose by 25% year-on-year, though numbers remain below the 2022 peak. The UK now ranks fifth in asylum claims within the ‘EU plus’ area, as the government struggles to clear the backlog of cases. The number of pending applications fell by 5% last year but still exceeds 90,600, affecting approximately 124,800 individuals.
“Work and study visas fell by around 250,000, largely due to stricter immigration rules introduced by the former Conservative government.”
Meanwhile, immigration detention numbers increased by 12%, and 2,251 small boat arrivals were returned to other countries—up 10% on 2023. The number of citizenship grants also soared, surpassing 269,600.
Angela Eagle, Border Security and Asylum Minister, blamed the previous government for the asylum backlog, insisting Labour was beginning to restore order but required time. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp dismissed the government’s efforts, attributing the crisis to a lack of deterrence.
The British Red Cross urged the government to expand safe routes, warning that many asylum seekers risk dangerous journeys due to a lack of alternatives. The Refugee Council welcomed Labour’s attempts to address the asylum system but called for swifter processing to prevent claimants from being left in limbo in temporary accommodation.
Government use of hotels for asylum seekers persisted, with over 38,000 housed at year-end—down from a 56,000 peak in September 2023. Ministers have pledged to phase out hotel accommodation by the next election.
Legal migration, meanwhile, declined. Work and study visas fell by around 250,000, largely due to stricter immigration rules introduced by the former Conservative government. Labour has pledged further tightening, with a White Paper on migration due later this year.
Despite these declines, overall non-EU visa grants remain well above pre-Brexit levels, highlighting a volatile policy landscape that continues to reshape UK migration trends.
